Right-Angled Staples: Simple Twist Reinvents the Stapler

Like coffee mugs or or door knobs, staplers are one of the most ubiquitous design objects and frequently tackled by people trying to make small improvements.

Already, there are industrial-strength versions and all kinds of other variants, so it should be surprising, in retrospect, that no one came up with this particular idea sooner.

42 Design presents the 90-degree stapler, making it easier to align the stapler with corners, but also preserving those same corners that are often dog-eared from use over time.

The catch? If there is one, it may be this: a more clunky delivery device and a stapler shape that is a bit more awkward. That said, with a bit more design work, these could be turned to the designers’ advantage through further ergonomic thinking.